By JOHANNESBURG — Stepping directly into the heart of working-class South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) officially kicked off its Local Government Elections campaign over the weekend with a major candidate presentation and manifesto launch in Riverside, Diepsloot.
The two-day event, held on 22 and 23 August 2026, underlined the party’s strategy to re-anchor its political identity within local communities while promising systemic municipal reform.
The choice of Diepsloot—a densely populated township that faces chronic service delivery challenges—served as a deliberate political gesture. By framing the launch around the historic Freedom Charter clause, “The People Shall Govern,” party leadership signalled a renewed commitment to community-driven governance, aiming to regain lost political ground in municipal strongholds.
At the centre of the campaign is a six-pillar manifesto that explicitly addresses systemic vulnerabilities across local government. The framework pledges to unblock municipal service delivery, root out local-level corruption, enforce administrative integrity, accelerate job creation, and step up critical infrastructure investment.
Crucially, the party acknowledged past operational failures in municipal administration, framing the upcoming election cycle as an exercise in decisive self-correction and institutional renewal.
Alongside the policy framework, the ANC introduced its slate of nominated mayoral candidates. Moving away from traditional selection dynamics, the movement highlighted updated selection criteria designed to evaluate ethical conduct, technical competence, and local credibility. Notably, the selection process opened candidate consideration both within and beyond the party’s formal membership.
Final mayoral appointments are expected in September, following further evaluation focused on fitness for purpose and community confidence.
The nomination rollout also demonstrated strong representation of women among the mayoral candidates, pointing toward an intentional push for gender equity within municipal leadership structures.
Reflecting on the turnout in Diepsloot, ANC National Spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri acknowledged the persistent public trust placed in the movement despite local governance hurdles. Party leadership extended gratitude to community members, volunteers, and supporters, re-committing the movement to disciplined public service and sustained community engagement.
As local government elections approach, the ANC faces the double burden of demonstrating tangible municipal reform while defending its mandate at the roots. With its six-pillar platform and revised candidate vetting, the governing party is banking on structural self-correction to rebuild public trust and secure a renewed mandate for municipal governance.
